Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting Blog
Siren Song: 75 Years of the Federal Signal Q-Siren
After initial success with a number of vehicular sirens, Federal Signal developed a siren solution that became the standard in the industry. The trademark Q siren tone was so iconic, nothing can come close to it. The Q siren absolutely penetrates the vehicle way better than a standard electronic siren does. It’s not asking for permission. It’s demanding compliance.
The Hall of Flame’s Baseball Connection
Stepping into the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting is like stepping back time. One exhibit at the museum honors the intersection of firefighting and baseball. The person in the middle of that intersection, Alexander Joy Cartwright, was a 19th century New York City firefighter who was widely considered for being the father of baseball.
The Great Floods
This past fall Mother Nature showed us all that she’s the boss, and sometimes a mean and unpredictable boss. First on Friday, September 26, strong rains hit the museum and water rose into the Hall of Heroes, along the east side of the building. On Monday, October 13, a second, even stronger microburst struck the east Valley. Tempe and East Phoenix were hit hard; roofs were torn off buildings and hundreds of trees were knocked down.
What a Dramatic Difference a Door Can Make in a House Fire
In a house fire, are you safer sleeping with your bedroom doors open or closed? In the following video, see for yourself the dramatic, life-saving difference a door can make in the unfortunate event of a house fire.
Senior Docent Gary Bohling Passes Away at 91
On January 31st, 2026, our beloved senior docent Gary Bohling passed away at the age of 91. Gary will be sorely missed as a great docent and tour guide. In the previous week before his passing, he estimated that he had conducted about a thousand tours in his 24 years with the Hall of Flame.
1889 Gleason & Bailey Hand Drawn Parade Carriage
In this post, we are featuring our 1889 Gleason & Bailey Hand Drawn Parade Carriage which currently resides in in Gallery I at the Hall of Flame Museum.
13 Fire Service Groups You Can Support on Giving Tuesday
We are honored to have our museum listed by Firehouse.com as 1 of 13 fire service groups to support on Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday – the first Tuesday of December – has become a day of generosity and a reminder that the spirit of giving can be just as powerful as any holiday gift.
The Pacific – 1866 Hunneman Hand Drawn Pumper
Why would a fire department in Maine call its fire engine “The Pacific?” “Pacific” is the name on the side of this 1866 Hunneman hand drawn pumper and hose cart from Rockport, Maine, now on exhibit in Gallery One at the Hall of Flame.
Support Storm Recovery at Hall of Flame Museum
On September 26 and October 13, 2025, Phoenix was hit by two huge monsoon rain storms which dropped over 4 inches of rain each time during a period of less than 90 minutes. On both occasions, the Hall of Flame was in the middle of the hardest hit area and suffered significant water and flooding damage to the building, galleries, gift shop and other areas of the museum.
FDNY Rescue Company 4 Rig Survives 9-11
Of the 5 matching rescue trucks, only this rig survived with minimal damage, and it went back into service shortly thereafter serving with the FDNY until 2011. It was ultimately saved from the scrap yard, restored and is now on permanent display here at the museum where it remains as a living memorial to all its occupants selfless acts of courage on that horrible day in U.S. history.